Making cupcakes

Here they come, just in time...

Recently, Ethan has developed a fascination with the Boomerang channel from Cartoon Network - it houses the classics, like Thundarr the Barbarian, Smurfs, Yogi Bear, Quick Draw McGraw, Hong Kong Phooey, Dino Boy, Tom and Jerry, Scooby Doo, and now the Powerpuff Girls. I understand a 4 year-old getting into Tom and Jerry and Scooby Doo, but not really getting the Powerpuff thing. This cartoon doesn't bother me as much because there is always a good lesson to learn and the girls are good forces. I usually watch TV with him, so I know what is going on and what influences he has. There is one character, which I find interesting and eery. "Him". He's a character sketched much like the devil. He can morph from his original to very big and scary. In every episode he is in, his voice is very calm and he conducts evil in very subtle ways... for example, one episode, he gave the children candy. He was mocked by the other villains but he said "why not give them a lifetime of pain in cavities". This is a concept, the devil, that I think is not so obvious in other shows. It kind of creeps me out, but at the same time... don't our kids need to know that evil can be everywhere or anywhere and even in the little things? And that you can be easily tricked or influenced by the wrong examples? I mean, I'm just saying.

Christmas 2010

This year we drove out to Ohio. Rhonda and the kids live in a small town outside of Cincinnati. It's very quaint and very Christmas-y with the snow. Initially, the drive was treacherous thru Indiana, but we persevered. It was so worth it because Santa via Grandma Nancy got Ethan the Polar Express train and it has not gone untouched since. This was also the first time in, I-don't-know-how-long, the whole family has been together. We ceased the opportunity and snapped some family photos - SOME chose not to cooperate ;) Regardless, we had such a great time, and Ethan bonded with Matt because he took us sledding.